Stable isotope analysis is a process where one analyzing varying levels of common isotopes in tissue levels. This information is useful as concentrations of various isotopes are predictable and tissue changes are accumulated via diet. However, each isotope has a turnover rate which can range from days to months, which may skew any data being used to determine locations of breeding or molting grounds. Feathers are an exception to this turnover process as they rapidly develop and then become metabolically inert, essentially freezing their isotope concentrations in place. Then, using, a mass spectrometer, one can identify what was consumed during feather development and then use this information to determine where molting or breeding grounds are. While this is still an inaccurate process and unrefined process, there is opportunity for more improvement with multiple isotope analysis as well as more accurate geographical isotope predictions.
Recent comments